Winonans who don't want WalMart in town because of specific corporate behaviors (i.e., hiring practices, health insurance, etc.), should be actively working for legislated protections against these behaviors at the local level as well.
If our local government were to set a new, higher standard for corporate behavior/employee protection (the standard to which all existing local businesses no doubt already steadfastly adhere) and require all new businesses to adhere to it, such actions would make more sense and ring far truer than arbitrarily legislating against stores of a particular size or structure.
Incidentally, it is my understanding that (a) La Crosse is getting a new WalMart in a recently annexed part of what is now the city and (b) the Onalaska WalMart will be replaced with a SuperWalMart an exit or two farther to the east (no idea what becomes of the old "big box"). It would seem the La Crosse area WalMart demographic is large enough to sustain the addition of another store on this side of the river.
-Spencer Madsen
Bob Sebo wrote:
[Winona Online Democracy]
From everything I've heard, Walmart is no role model for corporatebehaviour...but I really don't see how it would devastate the local business community. The devastation has already taken place. Target, Shopko, KMart, Fleet Farm, Menards, HyVee, EconoFoods (who have I missed?) have...I would think...done all the damage that could be done already. I think a Walmart would save trips to LaCrosse...but Lord knows I'm not expert on these matters.
The complaints about Walmart's business practices have everything to do with the fact that there is insufficient federal oversight of these areas. Union busting is supposed to be illegal. The minimum wage is a joke. Health coverage is a problem for lots of folks who don't work at Walmart, too. We could negotiate stronger worker protection guarantees into bilateral and multilateral trade agreements. Greed is a necessary component of the free market system. Government regulation is a necessary counter-balance to keep it from running amok.
We don't need to keep Walmart out of Winona. We need to hire better lawmakers to make the good ole boys from Arkansas and everywhere else playing nicer. Right now the feds are enablers of corporate misdeeds.
Bob Sebo Winona
_______________________________________________
This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy
All messages must be signed by the senders actual name.
No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list.
To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit
http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona
Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at
http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
_______________________________________________
This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy
All messages must be signed by the senders actual name.
No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list.
To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit
http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona
Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at
http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
